WHEREAS,  researchers estimate that about 48,960 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 40,560 will die from the disease this year, approximately 210 of whom live in Maine; and

WHEREAS,  pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which the survival rates have had little improvement in nearly 40 years, with 73% of patients with pancreatic cancer dying within one year of their diagnosis and 93% dying within 5 years of diagnosis; and

WHEREAS,  pancreatic cancer is the 4th-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with no early detection test to diagnose the disease in its early stages when surgical removal of the tumor is still possible; and

WHEREAS,  pancreatic cancer occurs when abnormal cell growth begins in the pancreas, with family history, smoking, age and diabetes being major risk factors; and

WHEREAS,  pancreatic cancer may cause vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions, including abdominal or back pain, weight loss, jaundice, loss of appetite and nausea; and

WHEREAS,  surgical removal, the best possible treatment option, is available for fewer than 20% of patients diagnosed and chemotherapy or radiation is typically offered to patients whose tumors cannot be removed surgically; and

WHEREAS,  the good health and well-being of the residents of Maine are enhanced as a direct result of increased awareness of pancreatic cancer and research into early detection, causes and effective treatments; now, therefore, be it